In the News

Companies often implement workplace wellness programs to control health care costs and improve their bottom line. However, results from a national survey conducted by HERO (the Health Enhancement Research Organization) in partnership with Findley Davies, revealed business leaders' recognition that there is a strong connection between employee health, productivity and performance. According to the HERO survey, more than 90 percent of the 500+ surveyed business leaders believe health has a significant influence on productivity and performance.

Laura Hoag, managing consultant for Strategic Employer Wellness at Findley Davies, sees a direct correlation between the survey findings and the Findley Davies approach. The wellness team offers clients a strategic approach to wellness that extends beyond the typical yearly health screenings and incentives to integrating it within business objectives and creating a workplace that views wellness as a people strategy.

Laura Hoag believes organizations should consider intentionally making health a way of life so that it becomes the valued and easy choice for employees. If an employee is not actively attending to their well-being, whether staying healthy or managing a health condition, it is more difficult to do their job to the best of their ability.

As a member of the HERO think tank, Laura Hoag notes that the Findley Davies survey respondents supported this belief with 98 percent of leaders responding that health influences worker performance and 82 percent indicating that leaders are very committed or committed to health. These two results indicate a higher degree of support than the rest of the survey respondents. Over half of Findley Davies survey respondents indicated that improving and maintaining employee health is primarily viewed as an investment in human capital.

According to Jessica Grossmeier, vice president of research, HERO, for several years now, companies of all sizes have been increasing their investment in employee health through workplace health management programs. While this movement is most commonly connected to a desire to control health care costs, HERO's interactions with employers led the organization to conclude that there is more at play here and that employers are realizing greater, long-term value from good employee health.